6 THE BOOK OF ASPARAGUS 



There is, however, as I consider, far more importance 

 in soils, sites and general cultivation than in difference 

 of variety, and, whereas the cultivation differs materially, 

 the varieties do not, in any great measure, differ from 

 one another. I take it to be a boon to growers that this 

 is so, for if asparagus were afflicted with as many varieties 

 as are peas, potatoes and numerous other vegetables, we 

 should every year be growing a few as good as, and 

 many worse than, those which we now possess ; for if 

 the statement of Pliny be true that three sticks of well- 

 grown common asparagus weighed a pound even in his 

 day, I do not think that we require any further waste of 

 labour in endeavouring to produce larger varieties until 

 we know how to grow those which we already have. 

 What the Romans did they mostly did well, for theirs 

 was an age of personal, individual energy. Ours, on the 

 other hand, is one of superior scientific knowledge and 

 enlightenment. We put our trust in what we know 

 rather than in what we do. In this book, as far as I am 

 able, I will give the results of my experience of thirty- 

 five years with asparagus — having grown it in various 

 counties, in various soils, and on various sites. 



SEED-BEDS, AND HOW I MAKE THEM 



A plant benefits no more than does a child in its 

 infancy by being starved and neglected. If there is one 

 plant more than others that in its early career should 

 not be stunted, it is asparagus. 



The best time of the year in which to sow the seed 

 is the month of March, and the seed-ground must be 

 clean and rich. The latter quality is more easily ob- 

 tained than the former, but there should be no careless- 

 ness as regards the condition of the land. A good open 

 piece should be selected — light and friable, even lighter 

 for the seeds than for permanent plantations. 



